honesty of a 5th grader...

I love it when my kiddos get assignments that require a different perspective and pensive thinking.

Kayli is in an extended learning program, which asked that the children fill in an answer describing their home.  No right or wrong answer, just honesty.

She told me the assignment and handed me the finished paper.

I took a deep breath, 

not sure I wanted to see what my watchful and detail-oriented daughter would reveal :)

I wanted to note this

because it will be fun for Kayli to look back on:

I love that she included and revealed the bickering, blood, blaring TV and the disgusting dishes.

.truth.

You won't find perfect people or a spotless house around these parts.

I am also thankful she sees that everyone and anyone who enters,

feels right at home.

and 

 - there - 

you will always find somebody who cares.

...today

...all things grow with love

February

...sometimes I feel like I've got this motherhood gig by the tail and sometimes I feel like it's got ME by the tail,   ha!  

This month it felt more like the latter.

Love day came and went.  We had a wonderful day and the kiddos' dream came true when the "love bird" was carried through the door.  I don't think a cockatiel parrot has ever gotten so much adoration, ha!  He has the funniest personality -at six months old- he's loving Kayli's voice lessons, the girls guitars and piano playing, swinging on his top branch and getting neck massages.  No I can't make this up, people.

His arch nemesis is a flashlight and flips out if one crosses by him.

It's possible for him to learn up to 250 words, right now he just "sings".

We have, as always, had a house full of kids -lots of messes and fun.

 Kayli went back for her 4th year in trying out for D-backs.  I joined the world of Facebook and it's on my page or John's if you wanna hear -
HERE:
considering she didn't practice at all (she had 7 theater performances in six days that week) I think she was ok with how it went down.

I also wasn't prepared.  I forgot my camera- Kayli's resume -and the tuner.

Showed up with my cell phone and 5 bucks for a soda.

Yep, I'm a superstar like that.

 We FINALLY planted our garden this weekend!
SoOo excited.  Temps in the 80's this week...

We planted tons of fun things- including mint chocolate, stevia, lemon flavored herbs (we can make into cosmetics) blackberries, watermelon, broccoli, lettuce - sweet tomatoes-so much more... it will be quite a harvest, we're hoping!  

we had a wedding at our house this weekend as well.

Kayli's previous voice instructor (Emma Sophina) married her dream man in our backyard.

It was gorgeous...well, what I was able to see.

I missed 3/4 of it, working backstage at Kayli's theater performance.

 

Here is Kyler, snuggling with the bride, Emma :)  The last photo I have of them together was Kyler, handcuffing her with his police cuffs - I told her it was time to update that, ha!

Gorgeous, glowing bride!

 Here's my early weekend morning :)

John and the girls slept in until 10:30 - it was the first time everyone was able to finally get some extra rest, so I kept these monkeys busy with teaching them how to flip bacon and eggs while googling "mcdonald pancake recipe".  Their future wives will thank me.

 This is way late posting, but I had to add - the girls and I did the color run.  It was freezing cold but fun.  They did amazing!

 These are all random photos that you probably have seen if you follow me on instagram.  But I need them for my blog scrapbook, so here's my fave repeats.

 John played basketball league this beautiful sunny afternoon.

I sat with my friend Cori and we chased babies and soaked up some vitamin D.

Very thankful for easy days like this.

 LOVE the book "stone soup"

and I finally found a kit (PBK) that had a set with all the seeds and descriptions of what the woman used to make the stone soup for the homeless character in the story.  Great lesson and Kyler enjoyed it especially.  

below is part of what's been keeping Kayli (and mom) hopping since January!

Practices up to 3 times a week.

7 times she performed it last week with an additional "tech rehearsal" the day before.

Thank goodness for a carpool of moms who pitched in with the driving.

It was a huge challenge for me to pull it off, but Kayli absolutely loved every second of it-even 4+ hour practices and getting home at 9 pm/going to school in the AM.

  This theater program is incredible, and she learned a ton.  It was a great opportunity and Kayli's already anticipating the next audition process to hopefully be cast again in Snow White. 

 We had our first "snow storm" in awhile.  Yep it was freezing cold.  I happened to be babysitting my adorable nephews.  Good thing they're snuggle bunnies because these girls couldn't get enough of them.  Logan and Brayden are the best of friends, it makes me smile.

 I didn't add this photo for some reason last month-

the four of us went to "dream girls" at Orpheum theater in Phoenix.

.

We enjoyed lunch outside-great company and a fabulous show.

The girls' eyes were glued to the stage.

------------------

...counting down the days to Spring Break !!!

Common sense

you can teach your child many things

-educate them- 

-immerse them in culture & diversity-  

-stretch their character with athletic programs-

And though I think all that's great...and we do try to give our kids a well- rounded

childhood...

little pleases me more than seeing them use common sense that (as a teacher also recently told me) isn't so common anymore.

Brooklyn came home today with a Principal's Award.

She was a little put out that it was for common sense.

"common sense"?  she shrugged, discouraged.

I was beaming.

Our "Nooks" is known for being a great friend, helpful in the classroom, straight A's at school.  But she is awarded for common sense, which is nearly impossible to teach.

We're proud of you Brooklyn!

And some day you'll see how far "common sense" takes you in this world!

morning giggles

My kids have conversations ALL the time that are so cute, I swear I will never forget

and I do.

The majority of time, they are never written down or shared,

so I am going to take a second and write down this mornings conversation

between the boys.

I should note,

these two are at such a hilarious stage.  They're too little to know they're being funny or cute...

which makes it even more entertaining.

 Appearing (disoriented and half sleeping) from my bedroom,

Brayden is wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"I sleep in your bed" he announced, yawning.

"I not pee.

I have weird dreams in the night

so I sleep in your bed"

Kyler, erupted with laughter.

"you know WHY you had weird dreams, Brayden?

...cuz after you fell asleep,

I put a PRINCESS CROWN on your head" !!

(which was true, Brayden was sleeping with a pink crown perched on his forehead)

Brayden, knowing Kyler played him well on that one 

-smiled big-

began eating his cereal

(and mostly likely started scheming on how to repay his brother)

Few things are certain,

but one is.

Life will never be boring.

have mercy...

have mercy

on my soul...

Brayden got his first party invitation today from a preschool classmate, 

a girl.  

"princes welcome" it stated, addressed to Brayden.

He was 

thrilled

excited

giddy

"I'm a good friend" he announced with pride as he got in the car,

 as shown below.

because, after all,

he is a "school kid"

as he likes to refer to himself.

Where's my time machine?

Not sure I'm ready for all this.

IN OTHER not so newsworthy NEWS...

february -6- 2013
I have joined the fun world of Instagram.

Mostly to SPY ON connect with my girls and tons of their classmates/friends.  

It's awesome...

APPS like these (pic collage) enable me to snap a few pics, collage them AND post them

in a matter of seconds - which is about what my attention span can handle these days-

My user name is:  themerwinzoo

...come find us

See 'ya there !